"Spatial Engineering graduates may be suitable to become coordinators between policymakers and technical experts"
Decision to apply for this Master’s
The introduction of Spatial Engineering is very attracting for me because it aims to help students cultivate the ability to solve real-world problems. I was very interested in how to apply the knowledge I learnt before into reality at that time. So, I chose this programme.
Thoughts about the Master’s
Spatial Engineering is different from many other master's. One of its most important ideas is “learn by doing”. So, we do not have time to dig out some knowledge deeper but learn how to pick up the information and knowledge we need for the projects quickly. It is helpful to improve our capability of learning and adaptation when stepping into new areas. It includes a lot of group work. There is a lot of discussion and disagreements during group work. The process helps me improve the ability of coordination and cooperation. Overall, it is an excellent master's programme which can not only help you enhance professional knowledge but also the ability of management of many aspects.
Thoughts about the way of teaching
There are a lot of types of teaching approaches such as group work, case study, lectures, practicals and much discussion. Teachers are willing to help students and guide them to find solutions by themselves. Most teaching contents are beneficial and I have learnt a lot from them.
The social relevance
At present, from what I understand about the learning outcomes, Spatial Engineering tries to help students learn how to deal with wicked problems by reaching consensus or filling a knowledge gap. Spatial Engineering graduates may be suitable to become coordinators between policymakers and technical experts. There are many wicked problems in the world. Many institutions like the United Nations and governmental departments, try to solve these issues. Thus, there is a very high social relevance of Spatial Engineering to the real world.
study at ITC, the Netherlands
At ITC people are very open to mistakes. So, it makes me braver to make mistakes and learn from them and thus improve myself.
In the Netherlands, I feel that I understand the meaning of “well-being” more deeply than before. Almost everything here is well organized. The study should not only include studying in school but also include many things in life. I learn quite a lot about how to live better and treat people better here.
Efforts in obtaining a scholarship
I applied for a (partial) scholarship from the ITC Foundation and got it successfully. The process of applying for the scholarship is not very complicated, just follow the steps acquired in the application website. The convenient process reduces quite a lot of burden for students.
Some words to future programme participants
Do hope that you can learn a lot, keep growing, trust yourself and stay open to different ideas. At the same time, you can still have fun when surrounded by many types of “wickedness”.